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My mother is Elsie Howland Copp born 1920. Her father was Thomas Stanley Howland born 1894 in New Bedford Mass. His father was Henry D. Howland married to Annie M. Simpson. That's as far back as I know for sure. What I'm trying to do is find out if my lineage goes back to the Mayflower. I am new at this and not really sure what to do. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

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Comment by Julia Mitchel on September 14, 2010 at 7:43pm
Never mind ordering the Film from LDS as the marriage of Thomas A. Howland to Elizabeth T. Wood on 31 Dec 1843, is on Ancestry, under New Bedford Marriages, page 288. Says they are both of New Bedford.
Comment by Julia Mitchel on September 14, 2010 at 7:32pm
Connie, more Howland. MA Marriages 1633-1850, lists Thomas A. Howland to Elizabeth T. Wood, 31 Dec 1843, New Bedford, Bristol, MA. FHC/LDS Film #1993939. (These films can be ordered at your closest LDS Family History Center for a small fee.
1870 MA, Ne wBedford, Bristol Co, Ward 1, pgs 96-97, Family 648/819: Thos A. Howland, age 47, House Carpenter, born MA, Eliz T, age 44, Kp House, born RI; Mary E, age 18, George T, age 12, Henry D, age 9, Wm R, age 5, all born MA.
Could not identify an Abigail born ca 1786, nor Deborah born ca 1810 in New Bedford, MA yet.
Comment by Julia Mitchel on September 14, 2010 at 7:06pm
Connie, re your Howland, a Stanley T (pos Thomas Stanley, born Aug 1894) is in the census, 1900 MA, Bristol, New Bedford, Sheet 3, ED 204, in family of Henry Howland, age 37, wife Annie M, born July 1862, age 37; Cora, born 1890 age 9; Henry b 1892, age 7; Stanley T, born Aug 1894, age 5, and Alice A, born Nov 1896, age 3.
This could be your Thomas Stanley, as names on census records change often.
Then since there is NO 1890 census, you have to go to the 1880 MA, Bristol Co, New Bedford, page 23/106, ED 109, Thomas A. Howland, age 50, Carpenter, born ca 1830, MA, (no wife); Eliza M, age 26 daughter; George, age 22, son; HENRY D, age 18; Wm R, age 16; then the gold mine happens: it list a Deborah Howland, age 70, a cousin; then Abigail, age 94, Boarder. However, this Abigail the boarder could be the mother of the cousin Deborah, or a mis labeled mother of Thomas A. Howland.
This is a very rare find in the census and a treasure as it gives you names to follow for proofs.
So somewhere before 1880 the wife of Thomas A, has died or divorced him and is gone from the census.
You will have to follow this Thomas A. family to and thru the 1870 and 1860 MA census to find out if indeed it is the father of your Henry D. Howland.
I would check the Bristol Co, MA records for the will or probate of Thomas A. Howland, to see if he died in MA, and if it mentions a son Henry D. and any wife or children of Henry. This way you can make sure it is the correct family.
There are tons of Howland's in MA, esp around Bristol area, so it is a minefield to be careful that you have the correct family.
The 1900 MA census for Henry Howland and Annie M, state they had been married for about 12 years, which would make their marriage 1888 ca, and I would check for that in Bristol Co, MA also.
Good luck, you can do this.
Comment by Heather Wilkinson Rojo on September 14, 2010 at 12:24pm
Find out Henry D. Howland's parents. They will be listed on his marriage or birth record. Were they married in Massachusetts? You can write to the Mass Archives or Mass Vital Records for certificates. Work you way backwards from there, following Henry's father, then grandfather, etc. until you find a link in one of the Mayflower Howland Silver or Pink books. You'll need copies of the certificates as proof for your Mayflower Society paperwork. I'm twice descended from John Howland of the Mayflower (both my mother and my father's lineage went back to John Howland) and a member of the NH Mayflower Society.
Comment by Julia Mitchel on September 12, 2010 at 9:01pm
The most usual way to trace your lineage is go go back from yourself one generation at a time. You say you have the first three generations, so now you might want to prove the parents of Henry D. Howland, and also the parents of Annie M. Simpson (this may also have a Mayflower line), then take their parents and prove the next generation.
You will need to be a little closer to the Mayflower lineage books to find your link.
Check the online site for the Mayflower Society, and see if they have a second volume of the Mayflower Ancestral Index.
I have the Volume 1, dated 1981, and the only two Henry Howlands in it married a Phebe Baker, and the next Henry married a Jane Eliza Gray.
Seems you need to find your next two or three generations to jump to the Boat.
Comment by connie simonow on September 11, 2010 at 4:43pm
Thank you "rottenralf" and "robyn anderson" very much for your comments. I can't wait to try the links you gave me. Looks like I'm going to be very busy!!!!
Comment by rottenralf on September 11, 2010 at 1:14pm
One of the best rules of genealogy is to work from yourself back, in other words, works from the known to the unknown. You should get a genealogy program, Legacy or PAF are both free downlaods and work very well. Legacy has some add-on that you can purchise if you find a need for them later on. (www.legacyfamilytree.com ) PAF is free from www.familysearch.org . A lot of Massachusetts vital records are available at NEHGS.org which is a subscription site. They are also available in the annual Town Reports from the late 1800's to modern day. Older Vitals are availablel in the "Tan Book" series for most town to 1850, many of these are online for no cost at places like google using their book tab. If you can document back to the revolutionary war era then the "Silver Books" are a well vetted source published by the Mayflower Society. They are pricey but, in my opinion, worth every penny. But you won't need them until you get back that far. The Mayflower lines are well researched, so it is really a fun line to work on.
Comment by robyn anderson on September 11, 2010 at 1:00pm
the howland family does go back on the mayflower
Comment by robyn anderson on September 11, 2010 at 12:59pm
Comment by robyn anderson on September 11, 2010 at 12:57pm
wiiling to help

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